Undermount vs Ball Bearing Drawer Slides

Installation and appearance

Undermount slides are concealed below the drawer and normally require specific drawer-bottom and side details. Ball bearing slides are commonly side mounted and remain visible when the drawer opens.

Choose the system before finalizing drawer dimensions. Changing the slide type later can require a drawer-box redesign.

Extension, load and closing function

Confirm nominal length, available cabinet depth, required extension and expected load. Soft-close and push-open functions should be stated explicitly.

Load figures should be compared under equivalent installation and test conditions rather than treated as a standalone marketing number.

RFQ information

Provide cabinet depth, drawer dimensions, material, expected load, quantity and required accessories. A section drawing is the most reliable reference.

For distribution orders, also state pair packing, clips, screws, labels and mixed-length quantities.

Selection summary

Use undermount slides when concealed appearance and compatible drawer construction are priorities. Use ball bearing slides when side mounting, broad application coverage or straightforward replacement is required.

See drawer slide sourcing options for the RFQ checklist.

Supplier evaluation

Compare quotations on specification, not unit price alone

Two cabinet-hardware quotations are only comparable when the product configuration is the same. Check dimensions, material, finish, mounting method, load or door data, closing function, accessories and packing quantity. A lower unit price may reflect a different model, missing accessories or lighter packing.

Ask the supplier to reference every quoted item to the drawing, BOM or target sample. Record open questions separately from confirmed specifications. This makes technical review faster and prevents an unconfirmed assumption from becoming part of the purchase order.

Order control

Use approved samples and stable item references

Before bulk production, confirm a sample or a documented reference for each important configuration. The approval record should include the item code, revision date, drawing, finish, accessory pack and packaging format. Photos are useful supporting evidence, but dimensions and functional requirements should remain the primary reference.

For repeat orders, keep the approved item code unchanged unless the specification changes. If a substitution is proposed, review it as a new configuration instead of assuming equivalence. Stable references improve receiving checks, reduce installation questions and help purchasing teams compare later quotations.

For a drawing-based quotation, send the available PDF, DWG, DXF, product photo, BOM and quantity through the CabFitCo RFQ form. Include the destination market and required delivery schedule so packing and consolidation can be reviewed with the product specification.